) You came from Jerusalem and made a long way from small shows in your city to huge shows with bands as Dillinger Escape Plan and Biohazard on the same stage, have you ever thought it will come so far?

ACTUALLY WE DIDN'T COME FROM JERUSALEM, BUT TEL AVIV. AT SOME POINT I MOVED TO JERUSALEM, BUT WE ACTUALLY NEVER PRACTICED THERE AND ONLY PLAYED A FEW SHOWS.

WHEN STARTING A BAND WE ALWAYS THOUGH TO MAKE IT BIG AND THE BELIEF IS WHAT MADE US PUSH HARDER AND HARDER TO ACHIVE THINGS. WE DID A LOT A LOT OF WORK TO COME TO WHAT WE BECAME AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY HARD. WE HAD THIS FEELING WE WOULD MAKE IT AND THAT GAVE US THE MOTIVATION MOVING FORWARD, EVEN AT THE WORST TIMES.

2) What is going on with the band nowdays, please inform regarding your new upcoming ep.

ACTUALLY WE HAVE BEEN INACTIVE FOR A WHILE NOW. WE HAVEN'T PLAYED A SHOW IN MORE THAN A YEAR AND DIDN'T RELEASE ANYTHING SINCE 2001. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH EACH OTHER'S PERSONAL AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS. WE AFRAID THIS COULD PUT AN END TO RABIES CASTE, AT LEAST PUT IT ON HOLD INDEFINATELY. BEFORE WE GO THIS IDEA OF A NEW RECORD CAME UP AND WE ARE CONSIDERING A NEW RELEASE EARLY 2005. IF IT COMES OUT IT SUPPOSE TO FEATURE 3 NEW STUDIO TRACKS, 1 EARLY STUDIO TRACK AND 2-3 LIVE TRACKS.

3) How you reached the deal with Earache Records? are you satisfied with the way they promoted Rabies Caste?

IN LATE 2000 WE WERE MAKING AN ALBUM FOR THIS SMALL INDIE UK LABEL. WE DID SOME UK TOURING AND ENTERED A STUDIO IN LONDON TO RECORD SOME TRACKS. BY THEN WE HAD AN OFFER FOR A RELEASE IN UK BUT WHILE WE WERE MIXING THE WHOLE THING WE DECIDED TO GIVE IT ANOTHER TRY AND LOOK FOR BIGGER LABELS. WHEN WE STARTED SNIFFING AROUND WITH A&R PEOPLE WE BASICALLY HAD AN ALBUM DONE. IT HAD 6 TRACKS. AFTER 1 MONTH WE HAD SOME INTEREST AND WERE SPEAKING TO BOTH "PAVEMENT" AND "EARACHE". AS I REMEMBER WE SPOKEN TO "EARACHE" JUST BEFORE THEY CLOSED FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS AND THEY SAID THEY LIKED THE BAND AND WILL GIVE IT FURTHER CONSIDERATION. 2 WEEKS LATER THEY SAID THEY WANT TO SIGN A BAND. IT TOOK ALMOST 4 MONTHS AND MANY PROBLEMS UNTIL AL WERE SATISFIED WITH THE OFFER THEY MADE. THEN WE GOT BACK TO UK TO TOUR AND RECORD MORE TRACKS + REMIX ALREADY RECORDED MATERIAL.

YES, WE ARE HAPPY WITH THE WAY THEY PROMOTED THE BAND, ALTHOUGH WE NEW FROM THE BEGINNING THEY ARE SMALL IN USA, WHICH WAS A PROBLEM FOR US BECAUSE WE NEVER GAVE A SHIT ABOUT EUROPE OR UK. THEY DID A GOOD JOB ON PROMOTING A BAND, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT WE BASICALLY SPENT TOO MUCH OF THEIR MONEY ON TOURS AND FLIGHT TICKETS, SOME OF WHICH WE NEVER USED. BUT EARACHE ARE THE PERFECT LIARS.

4) I heard you made shows in England and i know the british scene is very tough to be promoted in and interest people to come to gigs, is it true? please put some details

YEAH, WE PLAYED A LOT IN ENGLAND, AT LEAST 5 OR 6 TOURS, I THINK. ENGLAND IS SOMEWHAT LIKE ISRAEL: PEOPLE DON'T REALLY GO TO GIGS UNLESS THE BAND IS KNOWN, OR AMERICAN. IT'S VERY HARD TO PULL ANY CROWD UNLESS YOU HAVE A SONG ON "KERRANG TV" / "M2" AND IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE KERRANG/METAL HAMMER MAGAZINE CONSTANTLY. UNTIL WE PLAYED OUR OWN HEADLINING TOUR WE HAD TO DO AT LEAST FEW SUPPORT TOURS, AND EVEN AFTER ALL THAT IT'S VERY HARD TO PULL CROWDS. BUT IF SPEAKING OF GREAT BRITAIN, WE ENJOYED MUCH MORE PLAYING IRELAND AND SCOTLAND THAN UK, PEOPLE ARE MORE OPEN TO WHAT YOU GIVE TO THEM AND GET INTO THE MUSIC RIGHT AWAY. LONDON IS THE WORST PLACE, THOUGH.

5) Your lyrics are very personal, painful in authentic way, and deal alot with relationships, what inspire you to come out with those lyrics? what come first in Rabies Caste: lyrics or music?

FIRST:MUSIC.

I DON'T REALLY GIVE A LOT OF THOUGH TO THE LYRICS. WHATEVER I COME UP WITH I USUALLY USE RIGHT AWAY AND THAT'S THE WAY IT STAYS UNTIL THE RECORDING. I ALSO DON'T LIKE TOO MUCH WRITING LYRICS, FOR ME IT'S MORE ABOUT THE RIFFS AND AMOSPHERE.

OUR PERSONAL LIFE IS CRAP AND WE SUFFER A LOT LIVING THIS LIFE, WE DON'T ENJOY IT AT ALL. I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN INSPIRATION FOR THE LYRICS. IT'S ABOUT SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, SUFFER AND PERSONAL PAIN.

6) i really liked the "Steel Right Through The Mouth" lyrics, can you please put some light about the idea behind the song?

AS FOR MOST OF THE SONGS, DALE (drummer) COMES UP WITH A TITLE AND I TRY TAKING IT FROM THERE. HE INSPIRES ME WRITING MORE ON THE SUBJECT. AS FOR "STEEL RIGHT THROUGH..." THE LYRICS ARE ABOUT ENDING THIS LIFE AND NEVER WANTING TO LIVE MORE.

7) same for "Andrea"

THIS WAS WRITTEN ABOUT GORGEOUS PORN STAR, ANDREA.

8) How will you describe the music of Rabies Caste to someone who never heard your band?

IT'S DIFFERENT FROM RECORD TO RECORD AND WE NEVER STAYED THE SAME WITH THE YEARS. OVERALL SOUND IS ALWAYS HEAVY, DISTORTED WITH A LOT OF RIFFS. WHEN WE WERE STARTING THE BAND AS KIDS IN MID '90 WE WERE TOTALLY INTO HEAVY NOISE, THEN GRUNGE/HARDCORE, THEN SLUDGE/STONER/DOOM, NOW DOOM/DRONE.

9) Which experience you can share with us about your europian tours?

OVERALL IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE BUT AT THE SAME TIME HARD FOR US PERSONALLY. WE DON'T GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER FOR A LONG PERIOD, SO USUALLY IT TAKES UP TO COUPLE OF DAYS ON TOUR UNTIL WE START FIGHTING AND OFFENCE EACH OTHER. WHENEVER WE GO WE MAKE THE OTHER PEOPLE FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. IMAGINE 16-20 PEOPLE IN ONE TOUR BUS IN EUROPE (Dillinger/Nasum/Rabies Caste in 2002) WHEN 3 GUYS ARE CONSTANTLY OFFENDING EACH OTHER AND SCREAMING LIKE HELL WHILE LISTENING TO DOOM METAL AT 5 IN THE MORNING. IT MUST HAVE BEEN HELL FOR THEM. ALL TIME YOU GET TO SPEND IS:

1) ON THE BUS

2) SMALL COFFEE SHOP FOR A BREAKFAST

3) LOAD OUT, SOUNDCHECK

4) DINNER

5) GIG

6) LOAD IN, SEARCH FOR A SHOWER.

ALL "QUALITY" TIME YOU CAN SPEND IS AT NIGHT, AGAIN, ON THE BUS. AFTER GIGS ALL MUSICIANS USUSALLY GET AROUND ON THE BUS LISTENING TO MUSIC AND DRINKING A LOT... CASES UPON CASES UPON CASES, DRUGS TOO. IT WAS A FUNNY STORY WHEN AFTER ONE GIG IN UK WITH BIOHAZARD THE GUYS FROM CRADLE OF FILTH CAME TOO, AND BASICALLI DANNY (Cradle...) FELL DOWN ON THE GROUND RIGHT WHERE BIOHAZARD SPILT THEIR PEE OFF THE BUS CONTAINER. HE WAS STINKY THEN, I GUESS.

10) When you listen to your debut: "For The Vomiting Tractor Drivers", how do you feel about the material now?

I LIKE IT A LOT. I STILL CONSIDER IT EXTREMELY HEAVY AND I AM PROUD OF WHAT WE COULD COME UP WITH AT THOSE TIMES, EVEN STILL BEING KIDS AND HARDLY KNOW HOW TO PLAY. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S MOSTLY ABOUT THE MOTIVATION AND HOW MUCH TIME, MONEY AND ENERGY YOU ARE WILLING TO PUT INTO THAT. WE HAD DROPPED SCHOOLS AND CLAIMED INSANE TO AVOID ARMY FOR THAT RECORD, MAN. AND WE ARE INSANE, IT'S NO JOKE. TOTALLY DISTORTED PEOPLE WITH DUSCUSTING PERSONALITY.

11) I Really liked the artwork of "let the soul...". who designed it? and are you satisfied with the result?

WE DID LIKE THE ARTWORK AND WE HAD TO FIGHT WITH EARACHE TO GET IT RIGHT, THEY ARE SO CHEAP ON ARTORK, DON'T WANT TO SPEND ANOTHER PENNY. THE GUY WHO DID THE MAIN LAYOUT WAS A GUY WHO WE ACCIDENTALLY MET AT THE PUB IN NOTTINGHAM A YEAR LATER, WHILE ON TOUR. WE ONLY EXCHANGED FEW WORDS WITH HIM, WE WERE TOO DRUNK TO MAKE A CONVERSATION. THAT EVENING EVENTUALLY ENDED UP WITH ANOTHER BOTTLE OF JACK DANIELS AND ALL I CAN REMEMBER WAS 5 GUYS SLEEPING IN ONE TINY ROOM ON ONE BED.

12) Which kind of music you listen to nowdays and which bands influenced you?

WE LISTEN TO A LOT OF STUFF, MORE DOOM / DRONE LATELY. SUNN))), EARTH, BURIED AT SEA, GRIEF....

13) in your website you wrote :" the band are considering a new and final third release." why it will be the final record? no plans for further releases?

WE HAD ANTICIPATED A MAJOR RELEASE THIS YEAR BUT FOR SOME REASONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. AS TIME PASSES BY AND WE ARE GETTING OLDER(!) I THINK WE'RE GOING ON AN INDEFINITE HIATUS NOW. MORE LIKELY THERE WILL BE NO SHOWS OR NEW FULL LENGTH RECORD ANYTIME SOON. WE WANT TO GET THE THIRD RELEASE DONE SOMETIMES SOON TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE FANS AND GIVE THEM A NOTE THAT WE'RE STILL HERE. BUT THE MAIN IDEA IS TO GET THE NEW MATERIAL, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT AND MORE INSANE AND HEAVY, TO THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THY DESERVE IT. WE CARE ABOUT THE FANS WHO LIKE THIS KIND OF SHIT AND WE WANT TO GIVE IT TO THEM, MAYBE FOR THE LAST TIME. WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE SHOWS OR MONEY, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET THE STUFF HEARD AND APPRECIATED.

14) you worked with Harvey Birrell, known from his work with Theraphy, how was the working process with him?

HE WAS ABSOLUTELY DEDICATED TO THE PROCESS, SOMETIMES WORKING 12-14 HOURS A DAY, JUST TO GET THE RECORD DONE. IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE, BUT WE WERE AFRAID THAT HE DIDN'T 100% UNDERSTAND WHAT SOUNDS/IDEAS WE HAD IN MIND, SO WE HAD TO "CONTROL" HIS MOVES. BUT IT THE END IT CAME OUT VERY NICELY. WE NEVER COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN ISRAEL.

15) Do you have a side projects at the moment?

NO, I DON'T. I GAVE UP ON MUSIC FOR NOW, THOUGH A WHILE AGO I WAS JAMMING WITH SOME FRIENDS.

DALE (RABID, drummer) IS PLAYING WITH "TANGORODRIM", INSANE GARAGE BLACK METAL FROM ISRAEL (a.k.a. Bathory, DarkThrone, Hellhammer...). THEY HAVE A NEW ALBUM HOPEFULLY SOON ON LEGENDARY "SOUTHERN LORD RECS" (www.southernlord.com).

RUSSELL (BEAR, bassist) IS PLAYING MUSIC AS WELL, BUT NOT AS NEAR AS RABIES CASTE REGARDING MUSICAL STYLE. SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

16) Future plans?

AS FOR ME, IS BEING A GOOD FAMILY MAN, TRY TO KEEP A JOB FOR A WHILE. THE OTHER GUYS WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE MUSIC, AND HOPEFULLY GREAT MUSIC, THAT'S FOR SURE.

FOR SOME REASON I HAD THIS STUPID IDEA FOR A "RABIES CASTE" SHOW/S IF THE NEW CD COMES OUT, BUT THAT'S MORE LIKELY WON'T BE POSSIBLE FOR MANY REASONS.

THERE DEFINITELY WILL BE ANOTHER EXTREMELY HEAVY AS ALWAYS "RABIES CASTE" ALBUM BUT IT IS HARD TO SAY WHEN... MAYBE 1,2,3,4,5... YEARS FROM NOW. MEANWHILE ENJOY THE UPCOMING YET UNTITLED EP RELEASE, WHICH WILL BE IN THE SAME SICK AND DISCUSTING MOOD.